In less than a week, over 18,300 Nebraskans from 386 Nebraska communities signed a petition urging Governor Pillen to oppose opening a large-scale federal detainment camp anywhere in Nebraska. Today, Nebraska Appleseed delivered the petition with voices from across the state to Governor Pillen.
Last week, Governor Jim Pillen announced that ICE has plans to repurpose a facility in McCook, Nebraska as a large-scale federal detainment camp as part of a harmful, dangerous and rapid national expansion of ICE enforcement capacity that will have damaging effects on local communities.
Nebraskans throughout the state made it clear: This is NOT who we are.
A selection of comments from McCook and communities across Nebraska can be found here, including:
“As a resident and someone who grew up in McCook, we do not want this in our town or our state.” (McCook)
“This absolutely goes against what Nebraska and the rest of the United States stands for.” (McCook)
“It has become a universal opinion of our city, regardless of party or school of thought, that transforming the Work Ethic Camp into a detention center is not only short-sighted but cruel and amoral, and is in direct contrast to the wants of the Nebraska people.” (McCook)
“Our prison systems, school systems, and housing shortages need to be addressed way more than this ‘issue’.’ If you actually knew our community, you would know how terrible of an idea this is!” (McCook)
“As someone who grew up in McCook, Nebraska, I think this is an absolute tragedy to that community.” (McCook)
“As a McCook resident, I do not like seeing where Nebraska is headed with the new addition to WEC. This is not McCook. This is not Nebraska.” (McCook)
“Please keep Nebraska family values true to our state and don’t let the camps happen!” (Columbus)
“I do not support the creation of an ICE detention facility anywhere in the state of Nebraska. I don’t believe that this action represents the values of our state and our citizenry.” (Hebron)
“Please don’t do this. This will be a stain on our state for generations.” (Hastings)
“This is literally the furthest thing from what we as the state of Nebraska should be doing. It will set us back as a state so far and will do irreparable damage. This cannot happen.” (Ord)
Nebraska is a state that welcomes our neighbors and values the contributions of local moms, dads, coworkers, neighbors, and friends.
The country’s immigration laws have not been meaningfully updated in nearly 40 years. This leaves friends, families, and neighbors vulnerable to immigration enforcement who have been unable to access stable immigration status despite their best efforts to navigate the nation’s outdated immigration laws. We need policy change, NOT punishment.
Thank you for speaking up to say that Nebraskans do not want to be known as a state that separates families and locks up and detains members of our communities.